Seven (DVD, 2000, 2-Disc Set, Platinum)

Long is the way, and hard, that out of hell leads up to light ...
[John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book II. Line 432]

"Seven deadly sins, seven ways to die" is the tagline for this intense psychological thriller directed by David Fincher:

~ Detective Sergeant Mills [Brad Pitt] is set to replace Detective Lieutenant Somerset [Morgan Freeman], a world-weary cop retiring after years on the force. Somerset can see no end to the harrowing crimes he has witnessed, the sickness that is the City. Dealing with murder, rape, abuse, and poverty has become the Lieutenant's life and he now hopes for some small shred of peace. Mills, on the other hand, is new to the city; he is arrogant and brash, having little time for Somerset's thoughtful and analytical techniques.

As retirement beckons, so a new spate of killings begin. Like it or not, Somerset is given the investigation by the Captain [R Lee Ermey] while Mills is put on a different case. The murders are soon linked to the same killer - a twisted genius who chooses his victims based on the seven deadly sins in Dante Alighieri's 'The Divine Comedy' - and Mills and Somerset are paired together once more.

Despite their clash of personalities Mills and Somerset strike up a good partnership, Somerset's introspectiveness and Mills's self-confidence turning out to be a useful combination. Each one learns a lot from the other; indeed, Mills's wife [Gwyneth Paltrow] thinks Somerset is a good influence on the husband she is rapidly growing concerned about.

It soon becomes apparent that the 'sins' killer is playing a deadly cat-and-mouse game with the detectives, enjoying watching them either stumble or succeed at every turn in the case ... while he continues to kill according to the seven deadly sins: gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, lust. They must stop him before he can finish his murder spree and most probably disappear forever ~

Se7en is not only the most accomplished film by David Fincher [Zodiac] but almost certainly - from a writing and directing viewpoint - the best psychological thriller in the history of film and television. There are none of the stereotypical clichés found in countless thrillers of violence, no room for the predictable, for the viewer is kept constantly in the dark until the very end. And the climax is both ferocious and awe-striking ... for once Hollywood kept the outcome a secret until the day of release, not an easy thing to do.

Whatever vision Andrew Kevin Walker had before he took his script to screenwriter David Koepp [Secret Window] was ultimately realized once in the hands of David Fincher. Fincher's dark and rain-driven sewer, his city of sins, has yet to be matched on film. His choice of cast was spot-on. Se7en is a true classic, crossing genres like crime, horror, thriller and police procedural ... dark and moody, harrowing and painful, Se7en will appeal to the darker side within us all.

Co-stars John C McGinley as California.

Ghost
BookFiends.

Se7en is one of those trendsetting movies whose influence can be seen a decade after its release. Where do you think Saw came from? The mood, the brilliant killer playing with people's lives - who lives, who dies? It all goes back to Seven.

A serial killer strikes people he deems the embodiment of the 7 deadly sins. A cop on the eve of retiring and his replacement track him down in a gray city where it constantly rains.

Excellent acting by Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey. You even feel for Gwyneth Paltrow (as the wife of the new cop) as she struggles to adjust to her new surroundings - and not doing a good job at it.
The script is smart and violent. The atmosphere is tense and gritty, the city is so gray you can feel the cold and the rain.

Highly recommended but it is not for the squeamish. Lots of gory images and violence.

This is a fun thrill ride of a movie stars Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt and Kevin Spacey..Film begins with a murder being investigated by a soon to retire Cop played by Freeman..when his replacement arrives he decides to hand over his duties as quickly as possible, but something tugs at his conscince and he secretly begins helping the young Dectective played by Pitt, btw Gweneth Paltrow plays Pitts young pretty Wife, she makes a positive impression on her Hubbys temporary Partner..as the two work together they begin to unravel the mystery of the sadistic killer played by Spacey (Viewers will see a hint of Hannibal Lector in Spaceys performance) who uses the seven deadly sins to choose his victims..as they draw closer to the killer all hell breaks loose and someone gets hurt..caution Film is filled with grotesque images and foul langauge..film may begin with murder being the name of the game, but it quickly turns into a game of vengeance..who will win the game?? Watch and see, this movie wont disappoint and viewers be aware you wont see it coming!! I give this film 5 out of 5 bars!!

This movie is insane good good it is. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman are fantastic together in this thriller about a serial killer who kills people who fit one of the seven deadly sins (hence the title). Pitt and Freemen are detectives who follow the twists and turns through a very complicated case with a shocking, personal ending. Overall I'd say A++. And I don't even like Brad Pitt that much.

Easily one of the darkest and most unique thrillers made, Seven takes its time unfolding it's story for us. It teases and taughnts the viewer in the same way as it does the homicide detectives played by Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, that have to unveil our story for us.

With no lack of twists and turns this an adept screenplay that knows what you are thinking and expecting so it will go in a different way just for you. Sometimes gruesome while laying out the clues, with fantastic performances from a top notch cast and an ending that nobody ever forgets, Seven is a marvelous ride to a very dark place!